Process and apparatus for coloring glass containers

ABSTRACT

A process and an apparatus for imparting coloration to a glass container having a strikable glass container composition. One or more portions of the glass container are selectively and locally exposed to a temperature at or above a glass container striking temperature to affect a color change in the one or more portions of the glass container. The coloration process may be carried out by passing the glass container through an interior of an apparatus having a heating system configured to locally heat a first region within the interior to a temperature at or above a glass container striking temperature and a cooling system to locally cool a second region within the interior to a temperature below the glass container striking temperature.

The present disclosure is directed to glass containers and, moreparticularly, to coloring of glass containers.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Glass containers and other articles are often composed of so-calledsoda-lime glass, also called soda-lime-silica glass or “SLS” glass. Theglass used to make such articles may be colored, for example, to providethe articles with various aesthetic or functional properties. Coloredglass can be produced by introducing one or more colorants, e.g., metalsor metal oxides, into the glass during its manufacture. Oftentimes, theadded colorants will immediately impart color to the glass. Butsometimes color may need to be developed in the glass by subjecting theformed glass articles to a heat-treatment process known as “striking.”This heat-treatment process may involve heating the glass articles to atemperature above their normal annealing temperature for a sufficientamount of time for the colorants in the glass to interact or “strike”and visibly change the color of the glass.

“Color” is an aspect of an object that can be described in terms of itshue, saturation, and value, and these properties of color can be used todistinguish differences in color. Thus, a “color change” or “change incolor” occurs when the hue, saturation, and/or value of a color ischanged. Such a change is “visible” if it can be detected by an averagehuman viewer at an arm's length viewing distance or another convenientdistance, without special viewing equipment. The term “coloration,” asused herein, means the overall visual appearance of an object or aportion of an object with regard to color.

A general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with oneaspect of the disclosure, is to provide a process for heat-treating aglass container having a strikable glass container composition to impartcoloration to the glass container. One or more portions of the containerare selectively and locally exposed to a temperature at or above a glasscontainer striking temperature to affect a color change in the one ormore portions of the glass container. An apparatus is also provided thatis configured out carry out such processes.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can beimplemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A process for imparting coloration to a glass container in accordancewith one aspect of the disclosure includes: (a) providing a glasscontainer having a strikable glass container composition, and (b)exposing a selective portion of the glass container to a temperature ator above a glass container striking temperature for a time sufficient toaffect a color change in at least the selective portion of the glasscontainer. The selective portion of the glass container may be exposedto a temperature at or above a glass container striking temperature fora time sufficient to establish a temperature gradient in the glasscontainer and to produce a gradient of color in the glass container.Step (b) may involve passing the glass container through an interiorhaving a vertical temperature profile that includes a relatively hotzone and a relatively cool zone.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided aprocess for imparting coloration to a glass container that includes: (a)providing a glass container having a strikable glass containercomposition, (b) introducing the glass container into an environmenthaving a substantially uniform temperature, and (c) locally heating orcooling discrete portions of the glass container to affect a colorchange or to prevent a color change from occurring in the discreteportions of the glass container.

An apparatus for imparting coloration to a glass container in accordancewith one aspect of the disclosure includes: an interior, a support tosupport a glass container within the interior, a heating system tolocally heat a first region within the interior to a temperature at orabove a glass container striking temperature, and a cooling system tolocally cool a second region within the interior to a temperature belowthe glass container striking temperature. When a glass container havinga strikable glass container composition is passed through the interior,a first portion of the glass container is selectively and locally heatedto a temperature at or above the glass container striking temperaturesuch that a color change is produced in the first portion of the glasscontainer, and a second portion of the glass container is selectivelyand locally maintained at a temperature below the glass containerstriking temperature such that the second portion of the glass containerdoes not change color when the glass container is passed through theinterior.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is providedan apparatus for imparting coloration to a glass container. Theapparatus includes: an interior, a support to support a glass containerwithin the interior, a plenum extending across the interior, and amanifold in fluid communication with an opening in the plenum. Themanifold extends from the plenum at least partway into the interior andhas one or more orifices through which a gaseous medium can flow betweenthe plenum and the interior. Each orifice of the manifold is configuredto direct a gaseous flow at a discrete portion of a glass container toaffect a color change or to prevent a color change from occurring in thediscrete portion of the glass container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantagesand aspects thereof, will be best understood from the followingdescription, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a transverse sectional view of anapparatus for imparting coloration to a glass container in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a plot of a desired vertical temperature profile for theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a glass container having a desiredcoloration in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a transverse sectional view of anapparatus for imparting coloration to a glass container in accordancewith another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatus and process of the present disclosure can be used toimpart coloration to a glass container that has been formed from astrikable glass container composition. The term “strikable,” as usedherein, refers to glass containers and glass container compositions thatare formulated to undergo a visible color change when they are heated ator above a certain temperature known as a striking temperature. Itshould be noted that the “striking temperature” of a glass container ora glass container composition may not consist of one specifictemperature, but may include a range of temperatures. In such case,heating the glass container for a sufficient amount of time at anytemperature within the striking temperature range will change the colorof the glass, but the value or lightness of the color produced in theglass may vary. For example, if the glass is heated at a relatively lowtemperature within the striking temperature range then a relativelylight color may be produced in the glass, but if the glass is heated ata relatively high temperature within the striking temperature range thena relatively dark color may be produced. Also, the time required toaffect a desired color change within the glass may vary depending uponthe specific temperature within the striking temperature range at whichthe glass is heated, as well as the thickness of the glass being heated.

FIG. 1 illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view of an apparatus 10for imparting coloration to one or more glass containers C having astrikable glass container composition (i.e., a strikable glasscontainer), in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The apparatus 10 includes an elongated tunnel 12 having aninterior that extends through the apparatus 10, from an inlet to anoutlet thereof, and a conveyor 14 that supports and advances the one ormore glass containers C in a longitudinal direction through the interiorof the tunnel 12, perpendicular to the plane of the cross-section of theapparatus 10. The glass containers C can be arranged on the conveyor 14in the form of a spaced-apart array, which may include any generalaccumulation of multiple containers in any kind of order. For example,the glass containers C can be arranged on the conveyor 14 in a columnand row type of arrangement. In addition, although FIG. 1 depicts asingle row of glass containers C advancing through the tunnel 12, inother embodiments, multiple rows of multiple glass containers C mayadvance through the tunnel at a time, or multiple glass containers C mayadvance through the tunnel 12 in single file.

The apparatus 10 may be adapted for use in a continuous glass containermanufacturing facility, and may be positioned downstream of the glasscontainer forming operations and upstream of the glass containerinspection operations. In one example, the apparatus 10 may be adaptedfor use as part of the glass container annealing operation.

A heating system 16 and a cooling system 18 are employed in theapparatus 10 to control the temperature in the interior of the tunnel 12and thereby control the temperature to which the glass containers C areexposed as the containers C are passed through the tunnel 12. Theheating system 16 supplies heat to the tunnel 12 and the cooling system18 is configured to vent air out of the tunnel 12 and/or to locallysupply cooling air to the tunnel 12. For example, the heating system 16may be configured to selectively and locally supply heat to a lowerregion 20 of the tunnel 12, and the cooling system 18 may be configuredto selectively and locally vent air out of an upper region 22 of thetunnel 12 or to supply cooling air to the upper region 22 of the tunnel12 to establish a temperature differential between the lower and upperregions 20, 22 of the tunnel 12.

The heating system 16 includes heaters 24 that supply thermal energy tothe interior of the tunnel 12. The heaters 24 may be located within achamber 26 that extends underneath the conveyor 14 and is in thermalcommunication with the tunnel 12. The conveyor 14 is perforated so thatthe heat generated by the heaters 24 can be effectively and efficientlytransferred from the chamber 26 to the lower region 20 of the tunnel 12,e.g., by forced convection and/or by radiation. In other embodiments,the heaters 24 may be positioned above the conveyor 14, beside theconveyor 14, and/or above the glass containers C themselves. The heatingsystem 16 may be powered by natural gas, electricity, or by any othersuitable source of energy.

The cooling system 18 includes an intake conduit 28 and an exhaustconduit 30 that are in fluid communication with the tunnel 12 via aplenum 32 that may extend in a generally transverse direction across thetunnel 12, above the glass containers C. In other embodiments, theplenum 32 may be positioned below the glass containers C. A blower 34may be used to generate a generally horizontal and relatively coolgaseous flow through the plenum 32, from the intake conduit 28 to theexhaust conduit 30. The cooling system 18 may be configured to establisha positive or negative pressure in the plenum 32 relative to theinterior of the tunnel 12, depending on whether it is desirable for thecooling system 18 to cool the interior of the tunnel 12 by venting airout of the tunnel 12 or by locally supply cooling air to the interior ofthe tunnel 12. A filter 36 may be placed within the intake conduit 28 toseparate various particulate materials from the gaseous flow before itis swept through the plenum 32. The gaseous flow may consist ofrelatively cool air or another relatively cool gaseous medium, e.g.,exhaust gas, chilled gas or chilled air.

The plenum 32 of the cooling system 18 has a top 38 and a bottom 40. Thetop 38 of the plenum 32 may have an undulating profile, which may beconfigured to locally increase and/or decrease the pressure and/orvelocity of the gas flowing through the plenum 32. The bottom 40 of theplenum 32 has openings 42 that allow air and/or other gases to passbetween the tunnel 12 and the plenum 32. The openings 42 in the bottom40 of the plenum 32 may have curved upstream and downstream edges 44,46. The upstream edges 44 of the openings 42 may be curved in agenerally upward direction, towards the top 38 of the plenum 32, and thedownstream edges 46 may be curved in a generally downward direction,away from the plenum 32, which may allow for a more uniform exchange ofgas between the plenum 32 and the tunnel 12.

Perforated partitions, extensions, or covers 48 may be provided adjacentto or over the openings 42 to help guide and/or regulate the flow of airand/or other gases between the tunnel 12 and the plenum 32. The covers48 also may allow for the selective and localized cooling of one or morepredetermined regions of the tunnel 12. In some embodiments, the covers48 may be carried by the plenum 32, and the openings 42 in the bottom 40of the plenum 32 may be at least partially shielded by the covers 48. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the covers 48 extend from theplenum 32 partway into the interior of the tunnel 12.

The covers 48 include first and second guides 50, 52 having proximalends and distal ends. The first and second guides 50, 52 may be attachedto or coupled to the bottom 40 of the plenum 32 at their proximal endsand may come together at their distal ends to form a “V”. The proximalends of the first and second guides 50, 52 are disposed on oppositesides of the openings 42 in the plenum 32. The distal ends of the firstand second guides 50, 52 extend away from the plenum 32 into the tunnel12, and may extend into the upper region 22 of the tunnel 12 at alocation between and below top portions of the containers C to partiallypartition the upper region 22 of the tunnel 12 into sections.

The first guides 50 include slots 54 and the second guides 52 includeapertures 56 with fins, slats, or louvers 58 that extend in a generallyvertical direction from the second guides 52 towards the plenum 32. Incombination, the first and second guides 50, 52 may allow for a moreeven and horizontally uniform exchange of air or another gaseous mediumacross the tunnel 12, from one side of the tunnel 12 to the other.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, the cooling system 18 may beused separately from the remaining components of the apparatus 10 andincorporated into other high temperature environments to selectively andlocally cool certain regions of those environments, for example, toproduce a vertical temperature profile therein. Some specific examplesof other high temperature environments in which the cooling system 18may be incorporated include the design of a conventional annealing lehr,a conveyor oven, or a batch oven. In some embodiments, the coolingsystem 18 may be incorporated into an overhead region of a heatedchamber, enclosure, or vessel.

The heating system 16 and the cooling system 18 can be used incombination to create a vertical temperature profile within the interiorof the tunnel 12. The vertical temperature profile may be configured toallow for selective parts, regions, or portions of the glass containersC to undergo a visible color change as the glass containers C are passedthrough the tunnel 12, and may include temperatures within two or moregeneral temperature ranges. A first range may include temperatures thatwill not affect a color change within the glass containers C, i.e.,temperatures that are below a minimum glass container strikingtemperature of the glass containers C. A second range may includetemperatures that will affect some degree of a color change within theglass containers C but will not result in a full color change, i.e.,temperatures that are within a partial glass container strikingtemperature range. A third range may include temperatures that willaffect a full color change within the glass containers C, i.e.,temperatures that are within an optimum glass container strikingtemperature range.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a relatively hot zone islocally established within the lower region 20 of the tunnel 12, arelatively cool zone is locally established within the upper region 22of the tunnel 12, and an intermediate zone is established between therelatively hot and the relatively cool zones. The relatively hot zone islocally heated to a temperature within the optimum glass containerstriking temperature range, while the relatively cool zone is locallycooled and maintained at a temperature below the minimum glass containerstriking temperature. For example, the relatively hot zone may be heatedto a temperature above 550 degrees Celsius. This may include heating therelatively hot zone to a temperature in the range of 550 degrees Celsiusto 675 degrees Celsius, including all ranges and subranges therebetween.At the same time, the relatively cool zone may be maintained at atemperature between 10 degrees Celsius and 150 degrees Celsius below thetemperature of the relatively hot zone, including all ranges andsubranges therebetween. For example, the relatively cool zone may bemaintained at a temperature below 575 degrees Celsius. In someembodiments, the relatively cool zone may be maintained at a temperaturein the range of 375 degrees Celsius to 550 degrees Celsius. Theintermediate zone may include a gradient of temperatures ranging fromthe temperature of the relatively hot zone to the temperature of therelatively cool zone. As such, one or more regions of the intermediatezone may be at a temperature within the partial glass container strikingtemperature range. For example, the intermediate zone may be at atemperature in the range of 425 degrees Celsius to 625 degrees Celsius,including all ranges and subranges therebetween.

The temperature of the relatively hot zone may be established bycontrolling the amount of heat that is locally supplied to the lowerregion 20 of the tunnel 12 by the heaters 24. The temperature of therelatively cool zone may be established by locally venting air and/orother gases out of the upper region 22 of the tunnel 12 or by locallysupplying cooling air and/or another cooling gas to the upper region 22of the tunnel 12. The temperature of the intermediate zone may beestablished by simultaneous control and/or adjustment of thetemperatures in the relatively hot and cool zones, or by directlyheating or cooling the intermediate zone using any suitable means.

FIG. 2 provides a graphical illustration of a vertical temperatureprofile that may be established within the tunnel 12 of FIG. 1. Thetemperature profile includes three temperature zones: a relatively coolzone (I), an intermediate zone (II), and a relatively hot zone (III).The relatively cool zone (I) is at a temperature below a minimum glasscontainer striking temperature (T<T_(Smin)), and will not affect a colorchange in the glass containers C. The relatively hot zone (III) is at orclose to an optimum or maximum glass container striking temperature(T≅T_(Smax)), and will affect a full color change within the glasscontainers C. The intermediate zone (II) includes a gradient oftemperatures between the temperature of the relatively cool zone (1) andthe temperature of the relatively hot zone (III). The temperatureswithin the intermediate zone (II) are within a partial glass containerstriking temperature range (T_(Smin)≦T<T_(Smax)), and thus will affectsome degree of color change within the glass containers C but will notresult in a full color change. In some embodiments, the intermediatetemperature zone (II) may be minimized or even eliminated, for example,by precise control of the temperatures of the hot zone (III) and thecool zone (I) within the tunnel 12.

Coloration can be imparted to the glass containers C by passing theglass containers C through the interior of the tunnel 12 in a mannerwhich allows the glass containers C to be exposed to the temperatureprofile within the interior of the tunnel 12 for a sufficient amount oftime for one or more selective portions of the glass containers C toundergo a visible color change. This coloration process may be referredto as “striking,” and may be performed before the glass containers C areannealed, after the glass containers C are annealed, or during theannealing process itself. In some embodiments, heating or cooling airmay be directed at one or more discrete portions of the glass containersC as the glass containers C are being passed through the interior of thetunnel 12 to affect a more precise or specific color change within theglass containers C, as will be discussed further below.

If the coloration process is performed after the glass containers C havealready been annealed, then it may be desirable to slowly reduce thetemperature of the glass containers C after the coloration process isperformed to a temperature below the strain point of the glass. This mayinclude gradually cooling the glass containers C down to a temperaturein the range of 120 degrees Celsius to 140 degrees Celsius, includingall ranges and subranges therebetween. The temperature of the glasscontainers C may be brought down gradually after the coloration process,for example, according to an annealing schedule to avoid fracture orfailure of the containers C.

In some embodiments, the coloration process may be performed between thetime the annealing process begins and the time the annealing processends. In one example, the apparatus 10 may be separate from and used offline adjacent to an annealing lehr. In another example, the apparatus 10may be incorporated into the design of the annealing lehr.

FIG. 3 illustrates a glass container C that has been exposed to thevertical temperature profile of FIG. 2 for a sufficient amount of timeto impart a desired coloration to the glass container C, e.g., between 5minutes and 60 minutes, including all ranges and subranges therebetween.The glass container C includes a generally colorless unstruck portion(I), a partially struck portion (II) that exhibits a color gradient,i.e., color that gradually transitions from dark to light or vice versa,and a fully struck portion (III) that exhibits a substantially uniformcolor. As shown, the partially struck portion (II) and the fully struckportion (III) of the glass container C each comprise a portion of theglass container C that is less than the whole glass container C.

FIG. 4 illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view of anotherapparatus 100 that can be used to impart coloration to one or morestrikable glass containers C, in accordance with another illustrativeembodiment of the present disclosure. Like the apparatus 10, theapparatus 100 includes an elongated tunnel 112 having an interior thatextends through the apparatus 100, in a direction from an inlet towardan outlet thereof. The glass containers C may be supported by andadvanced in a longitudinal direction through the interior of the tunnel112 on individual platforms 114, which may be configured to rotate theglass containers C as the containers C are being passed through theinterior of the tunnel 112. In other embodiments, the glass containers Cmay be supported on one or more conveyors or by any other suitabledevice.

A plenum 116 extends in a generally transverse direction across theinterior of the tunnel 112, from an open end 118 to a closed end 120thereof. A blower 122 may be used to generate a generally horizontalgaseous flow through the plenum 116, from the open end 118 to the closedend 120, and to establish a positive pressure in the plenum 116 relativeto the interior of the tunnel 112 so that gases flow from the plenum 116into the interior of the tunnel 112. The plenum 116 is in fluidcommunication with the interior of the tunnel 112 via one or moremanifolds 124, and has one or more openings 126 through which air and/oranother gaseous medium can flow between the plenum 116 and the one ormore manifolds 124.

The manifolds 124 extend from the plenum 116 at least partway into theinterior of the tunnel 112 and have orifices 128 through which airand/or another gaseous medium can flow between the plenum 116 and theinterior of the tunnel 112. The manifolds 124 may have elongated bodieswith open proximal ends coupled to the plenum 116 and closed distal endsextending away from the plenum 116. Each of the orifices 128 isconfigured to direct a gaseous flow from the plenum 116, through one ormore of the manifolds 124 and at a discrete portion of one or more ofthe glass containers C. The orifices 128 may be of the same or differentsizes and may be regularly or randomly spaced apart from one another.For example, the orifices 128 near the proximal ends of the manifolds124 may be smaller or larger and/or present in a higher or lowerconcentration than the orifices 128 near the distal ends of themanifolds 124, or vice versa. In some embodiments, one or more of themanifolds 124 may be positioned side-by-side and/or coupled to oneanother to form a gauntlet.

The temperature of the gaseous flow in the plenum 116 may be relativelycool or relatively hot compared to the temperature in the interior ofthe tunnel 112, and a relatively hot or relatively cool gaseous flow canbe directed from the manifolds 124, through the orifices 128 and at oneor more discrete portions of the glass containers C to impart colorationto the glass containers C. For example, a relatively hot or relativelycool gaseous flow can be directed from the manifolds 124, through theorifices 128 and at one or more discrete portions of the glasscontainers C to affect a color change or to prevent a color change fromoccurring in the one or more discrete portions of the glass containersC. In some embodiments, a relatively cool gaseous flow can be directedfrom the manifolds 124, through the orifices 128 at the one or morediscrete portions of the glass containers C to halt or limit the degreeof color change, for example, to stop a color change prior to completionresulting in a partial color change in the one or more discrete portionsof the glass containers C.

The orifices 128 may be arranged in a predetermined pattern in each ofthe manifolds 124 to affect a desired temperature profile around each ofthe glass containers C, and thereby impart a desired coloration to theglass containers C. Accordingly, the apparatus 100 may be used toproduce glass containers having random or regularly patterned coloredportions of the same or different color values or lightness. In someembodiments, the apparatus 100 may be used to produce glass containershaving a mottled appearance by varying the temperatures of differentportions of the glass containers C.

In embodiments where the temperature in the interior of the tunnel 112is maintained below a minimum glass container striking temperature, arelatively hot gaseous flow having a temperature at or above the glasscontainer striking temperature can be directed from one of the manifolds124, through one of the orifices 128 and at a discrete portion of one ofthe glass containers C for a sufficient time to affect a color changetherein.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the plenum 116and/or one or more of the manifolds 124 may be moved relative to theglass containers C by a powertrain 130 of any type suitable forimparting motion thereto. For example, the powertrain 130 may include anelectric motor or other prime mover, linkages between the prime moverand the manifolds 124 and/or plenum 116, as well as suitable controls,sensors, and the like.

In other embodiments, where the temperature in the interior of thetunnel 112 is maintained at or above a glass container strikingtemperature, a relatively cool gaseous flow having a temperature belowthe glass container striking temperature can be directed from one of themanifolds 124, through one of the orifices 128 and at a discrete portionof one of the glass containers C to ensure that the discrete portionremains below the glass container striking temperature and does notchange color as the glass containers C are passed through the interiorof the tunnel 112. Portions of the glass containers C that are notexposed to the relatively cool gaseous flow from the manifold 124 willbe heated to a temperature at or above the glass container strikingtemperature and will change color as the glass containers C are passedthrough the interior of the tunnel 112.

The plenum 116 and/or the manifolds 124 may be movable relative to theglass containers C to provide flexibility to the coloration process. Forexample, the plenum 116 and/or the manifolds 124 may be movable in avertical direction and/or in a horizontal direction so that the plenum116 and/or the manifolds 124 are either closer to or further from theglass containers C. In some embodiments, the plenum 116 and/or themanifolds 124 can be moved during the coloration process so that agaseous flow from one of the orifices 128 can be sequentially directedat multiple discrete portions of one or more of the glass containers C,thereby allowing for the production of multiple different color patternsin the glass containers C using a single manifold 124 having a singleorifice 128. In other embodiments, the plenum 116 and the manifolds 124may be configured to follow a predetermined pattern, e.g., a figureeight pattern, and the glass containers C may be timed to pass throughthe interior of the tunnel 112 so that the glass containers C areexposed to a desired temperature profile as they pass through the tunnel112 to impart a desired coloration to the glass containers C.

There thus has been disclosed an apparatus and a process for impartingcoloration to a glass container after the container has been formed,that fully satisfies one or more of the objects and aims previously setforth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with severalillustrative embodiments, and additional modifications and variationshave been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily willsuggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view ofthe foregoing discussion. In addition, the subject matter of each of theembodiments is hereby incorporated by reference into each of the otherembodiments, for expedience. The disclosure is intended to embrace allsuch modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broadscope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for heat-treating a glasscontainer that includes: an interior; a support to support a glasscontainer within said interior; a heating system to locally heat a firstregion within said interior to a temperature at or above a predeterminedtemperature; and a cooling system to locally cool a second region withinsaid interior to a temperature below said predetermined temperature;wherein, when a glass container is passed through said interior, a firstportion of the glass container is selectively and locally heated to atemperature at or above said predetermined temperature and, at the sametime, a second portion of the glass container is selectively and locallymaintained at a temperature below said predetermined temperature.
 2. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said heating system is configuredto locally heat an upper region of said interior and said cooling systemis configured to locally cool a lower region of said interior such thata temperature differential is established between said upper and lowerregions of said interior.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid cooling system includes a plenum that extends across said interior.4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 including a means for moving saidplenum relative to said support.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3wherein said plenum includes an opening through which air can flowbetween said interior and said plenum.
 6. The apparatus set forth inclaim 5 that also includes a perforated extension adjacent said openingthat extends partway into said interior.
 7. The apparatus set forth inclaim 6 wherein said perforated extension extends into said interiorsuch that a distal end of said perforated extension extends between andbelow top portions of glass containers supported by said support withinsaid interior.
 8. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said plenumextends from an intake conduit located on a first side of said interiorto an exhaust conduit located on a second opposite side of saidinterior.
 9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 including a blower togenerate a gaseous flow in a generally horizontal direction through saidplenum, from said intake conduit to said exhaust conduit.
 10. Theapparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said support is configured toadvance at least one glass container in a longitudinal direction throughsaid interior, from an inlet to an outlet thereof, and said plenum isconfigured to transport a gaseous flow in a transverse direction acrosssaid interior, from one side of said interior to another.
 11. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said predetermined temperature isa glass container striking temperature, and, when the glass containerbeing passed through said interior has a strikable glass containercomposition, the first portion of the glass container is selectively andlocally heated to a temperature at or above said glass containerstriking temperature such that a color change is produced in the firstportion of the glass container and the second portion of the glasscontainer is selectively and locally maintained at a temperature belowsaid glass container striking temperature such that the second portionof the glass container does not change color when the glass container ispassed through said interior.
 12. The apparatus set forth in claim 1wherein said heating system is configured to locally heat a lower regionof said interior and said cooling system is configured to locally coolan upper region of said interior such that a temperature differential isestablished within said interior.
 13. The apparatus set forth in claim 1wherein said first and second regions within said interior are spacedapart from each other in a vertical direction such that a verticaltemperature profile is established within said interior.
 14. Anapparatus for heat-treating a glass container that includes: aninterior; a support to support a glass container within said interior; aplenum extending across said interior; and a manifold in fluidcommunication with an opening in said plenum, said manifold extendingfrom said plenum at least partway into said interior and having orificesthrough which a gaseous medium can flow between said plenum and saidinterior, wherein each orifice of said manifold is configured to directa gaseous flow at a discrete portion of a glass container.
 15. Theapparatus set forth in claim 14 wherein said manifold has an elongatedbody with an open proximal end coupled to said plenum and a closeddistal end extending away from said plenum.
 16. The apparatus set forthin claim 14 that includes: a means for moving said plenum, saidmanifold, or both said plenum and said manifold in one or moredirections relative to said conveyor.
 17. A cooling system for locallycooling a selective region of a high temperature environment, thecooling system including: an intake conduit; an exhaust conduit; and aplenum in fluid communication with the intake and exhaust conduits andhaving a top and a bottom that define a flow through passage, whereinthe bottom of the plenum includes an opening through which a gaseousmedium can pass between the plenum and the high temperature environmentand a perforated cover extending away from the plenum into the hightemperature environment.
 18. The cooling system set forth in claim 17wherein the top of the plenum has an undulating profile.
 19. The coolingsystem set forth in claim 17 wherein the opening includes an upstreamedge that curves toward the top of the plenum and a downstream end thatcurves away from the bottom of the plenum.
 20. The cooling system setforth in claim 17 wherein the perforated cover includes a first guideand a second guide downstream of the first guide, the first and secondguides having proximal ends and distal ends, and wherein the first andsecond guides come together at their distal ends.
 21. The cooling systemset forth in claim 17 wherein the proximal ends of the first and secondguides are disposed on opposite sides of the opening in the bottom ofthe plenum and the distal ends of the first and second guides extendaway from the plenum into the high temperature environment.
 22. Thecooling system set forth in claim 17 wherein the first guide includes aplurality of slots.
 23. The cooling system set forth in claim 17 whereinthe second guide includes a plurality of apertures having louvers thatextend away from the apertures toward the plenum.
 24. The cooling systemset forth in claim 17 including a blower to generate a gaseous flowthrough the plenum from one side of the high temperature environment toanother.
 25. An annealing lehr including the cooling system set forth inclaim
 17. 26. The cooling system set forth in claim 17 wherein a firstend of the plenum is in fluid communication with the intake conduit anda second end of the plenum is in fluid communication with the exhaustconduit.
 27. The cooling system set forth in claim 26 including a blowerto generate a generally horizontal gaseous flow through the plenum fromthe intake conduit to the exhaust conduit.
 28. An apparatus forheat-treating a glass container that includes: an interior; a support tosupport a glass container within the interior; a heating system tolocally heat a first region within the interior; and a cooling system tolocally cool a second region within the interior; wherein, when a glasscontainer is passed through the interior, a first portion of the glasscontainer is selectively and locally heated to a predeterminedtemperature while a second portion of the glass container issimultaneously maintained below the predetermined temperature.
 29. Theapparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein the cooling system is configuredto locally cool an upper region of the interior, and the heating systemis configured to locally heat a lower region of the interior.
 30. Theapparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein the cooling system includes aplenum that extends across the interior.
 31. The apparatus set forth inclaim 30 including a means for moving the plenum relative to thesupport.
 32. The apparatus set forth in claim 30 wherein the plenumincludes an opening through which a gaseous medium can pass between theinterior and the plenum.
 33. The apparatus set forth in claim 32including a perforated extension adjacent the opening of the plenum thatextends partway into the interior.
 34. The apparatus set forth in claim32 including a manifold in fluid communication with the opening in theplenum, the manifold extending from the plenum at least partway into theinterior and having orifices through which a gaseous medium can flowbetween the plenum and the interior, wherein each orifice of themanifold is configured to direct a gaseous flow into a selective andlocalized region of the interior to selectively and locally heat or coola discrete portion of the glass container.
 35. The apparatus set forthin claim 34 wherein the manifold has an elongated body with an openproximal end coupled to the plenum and a closed distal end extendingaway from the plenum.
 36. The apparatus set forth in claim 34 includinga means for moving the manifold relative to the support.
 37. Theapparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein the first and second regionswithin the interior are spaced apart from each other in a verticaldirection such that a vertical temperature profile is established withinthe interior.